Wanting to join Ham

[pasadenamd]

I am taking CERT classes and now, I want to become a Ham radio operator. I live in Pasadena, Md. I was wondering, do you take classes to become a ham operator? How do you study for the test? How long is the test? Thanks.

[chrizby]

Been a ham a couple of years, and just realizing how much I like radio stuff and probably would have done it when I was younger but I didn't know anybody that was a ham.
Start out with arrl.org . They have the tests you can download. Study up , its not that hard and then find a local group that does testing. Roll in, pay them 10 bucks or so and take the tests. There are 3 of them. Technician, General, and Extra. Most people take the tech test just to test the waters. You can take all 3 tests at once for that same 10 bucks and walk out with an Extra ticket. Maybe there are classes somewhere I don't know, but most people just do self-study. Morse not required but it is still very much in use.
It is what you make of it, like most things. Ignore the morons and hang out with the good ones.
Go for it.

[CommJunkie]

http://www.radioreference.com/forums...e-courses.html

[KI6ABZ]

You can also check out the Ham Academy at AH0A. Look at his study notes and take the practice tests.

There are 3 levels of amateur radio operator in the United States today: Technician, General, and Extra.

As a Technician, you can work local repeaters and any communication mode on 50 MHz and up. A General has privileges on HF: the frequencies below 50 MHz, but with some limitations. An extra has all the HF bands open to him.

The only real difference between General and Extra is a few KHz of bandwidth on some of the more popular bands.

You will want to start by studying for the Technician class: this gets you in to local repeaters. If you want to expand in to trying to work DX (long-range contacts), you can then study for your General. But before you do that, find a club and get to know some guys; see if a General or Extra will let you sit in with them and work the bands. If you think you'd enjoy it, then you can work on that license class.

You can also study with a test guide, like Ham Radio for Dummies (I'm not kidding... I bought & studied with that book) and just take a test at a local testing site. Also, look for a Ham Radio Outlet nearby; the guys there are usually very helpful. After all, if you pass, you'll be their customer.

The ARRL isn't the best place to find out about Ham classes tests in your area, mostly because it doesn't list all the test sessions. Here in San Diego, I tried to view the ARRL list of tests, and it left out nearly all of the tests and classes administered by the local amateur groups. Rather than use their test list, use their list of clubs to find a local club or use Google to find local clubs. Find the nearest club, call the telephone number on the web site, and talk to the guy who answers. He'll be able to help you find a class and testing site.

The actual test is pretty straightforward: there are 35 questions, multiple choice, and they'll relate to a few categories: radio safety, operation, some regulations, and probably knowing something about band limits.

[KI6ABZ]

Originally Posted by chrizby

Morse not required but it is still very much in use.

That is very true. I don't know Morse Code yet, but I can decode it by plugging my transceiver in to my computer. It's a lot of fun to listen to the digital modes and try to pick up weak signals. While I haven't caught anything from outside North America yet, I have picked up stuff from all over the continent, and CW and PSK carry a lot farther than voice.

[newsphotog]

Originally Posted by KI6ABZ

That is very true. I don't know Morse Code yet, but I can decode it by plugging my transceiver in to my computer. It's a lot of fun to listen to the digital modes and try to pick up weak signals. While I haven't caught anything from outside North America yet, I have picked up stuff from all over the continent, and CW and PSK carry a lot farther than voice.

I read somewhere (can't remember where) that CW is back on the rise according to the ARRL. As it turns out, a good chunk of us "no-code newbies" actually enjoy working CW.

That probably counts the people using computers to decode and encode CW, but I think CW is CW regardless, although some will argue...

I have thought about working CW through the computer before but I just haven't gotten around to it yet. I have also heard from a few people that other hams figured out that you're using a computer to send CW so they will key sloppily to you so your computer can't decode it.

[KI6ABZ]

Ugh. They will. They'll use straight keys just to tick off computer users. After all, computers ain't radio.

[N0KMA]

Originally Posted by KI6ABZ

As a Technician, you can work local repeaters and any communication mode on 50 MHz and up. A General has privileges on HF: the frequencies below 50 MHz, but with some limitations. An extra has all the HF bands open to him.

Technicians also have privileges on 80/40/15 meters CW as well as 10 meter CW/SSB/Data. As far as the CW using a computer for decoding/sending. I guess i really don't have a problem with it but, what happens when you don't have a computer available? Out on a camping trip or hike and you want to do a little operating you have to make sure you drag along a computer, proper cables and what not, and if your sending with a keyboard, you will need a rig that can accept all that. That would be a bit more than i would be willing to do. I have a little QRP rig that i built, it the wire antenna, set of mini paddles, batteries, etc can all fit in a fanny sack or something and be ready to operate in seconds. Not to mention learning to send and decode CW in your head is just one other thing to be proud of yourself for.

In the CQ world wide WPX contest this year the amount of CW logs turned in this year out numbered the SSB logs. Yes CW is alive and well. Check out this very short editorial a friend of mine has written on his website.
WØSJS

Todd
NØKMA

[hill]

Try these link to your local clubs. The first and second links have classes, not sure about the middle one. All have testing sessions. The Anne Arundel Amateur Radio Club is largest club and is the first link

AARC | Anne Arundel Amateur Radio Club
Online Mobileer - Home
Amateur Radio Club of the National Electronics Museum | K3NEM

Hope that helps.

Larry

[APTN]

I bought this book and I got my license by studying it.

ARRLWeb: ARRL Product Catalog

[W7RA]

All the questions are available online. Once you know all the questions, you will pass the test. It is not like other tests where the questions cannot be released.

Do a search for Amateur Radio test on google.

73 (Seven Three)

Jim W7RA